By Ferdinand Patinio

TURNOVER. Bureau of Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno (right) and lawyer Jerekko Cadorna of the Bureau of the Treasury lead the symbolic turnover of proceeds from the auction of nine luxury vehicles linked to couple Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya in Port Area, Manila on Tuesday (March 10, 2026). The BOC seized 13 high-value vehicles the Discaya couple for violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)

MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday turned over PHP102.4 million to the government from the auction of nine luxury vehicles linked to the Discaya family.

During a ceremony at the BOC grounds in Port Area, Manila, Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno handed the proceeds to Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) representative Jerekko Cadorna, officer-in-charge of the Complaints and Investigation Division.

The amount came from several public auctions held over the past months.

“The successful auction and turnover of these proceeds demonstrate the Bureau of Customs’ resolve to enforce the law while ensuring that recovered assets are returned to the Filipino people and utilized to support national development,” Nepomuceno said.

The BOC earlier seized 13 high-value vehicles from spouses Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya over violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

The couple has been linked to allegedly anomalous flood control projects.

Seized vehicles included a 2022 Toyota Tundra, 2023 Toyota Sequoia, 2023 Rolls-Royce Cullinan, 2022 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG, 2019 Mercedes-Benz G500 Brabus, 2021 Lincoln Navigator L, 2022 Bentley Bentayga, 2024 Lincoln Navigator, 2022 GMC Yukon Denali, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, 2022 Maserati Levante Modena, 2022 GMC Yukon XL Denali, and 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV.

In the Nov. 20, 2025 auction, a 2022 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG sold for PHP15,611,710; a 2019 Mercedes-Benz G500 Brabus for PHP15.5 million; and a 2021 Lincoln Navigator L for PHP7.1 million, generating PHP38.21 million.

During the Dec. 5, 2025 auction, a 2022 Toyota Tundra sold for PHP3.48 million and a 2023 Toyota Sequoia for PHP6 million.

In the Feb. 11, 2026 auction, a 2023 Rolls-Royce Cullinan fetched PHP29.03 million.

The latest auction on Feb. 25, 2026 sold a 2024 Lincoln Navigator for PHP6.95 million, a 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV for PHP6.62 million, and a 2022 Bentley Bentayga for PHP12.18 million, generating PHP25.75 million.

The BOC said four vehicles — 2022 GMC Yukon Denali, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, 2022 Maserati Levante Modena, and 2022 GMC Yukon XL Denali — remain unsold and may be offered in future auctions.

Meanwhile, the BOC plans to auction 25 more luxury vehicles, mostly seized from Philippine offshore gaming operators, and hopes to raise an additional PHP700 million. (PNA)